Pheasant hunting season in Western New York will open on Saturday, Oct. 16, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced today. DEC will release approximately 4,900 adult ring-necked pheasants from its Reynolds Game Farm on Region 9 lands open to public hunting for this fall’s pheasant hunting season. A complete statewide list of pheasant release sites is available on DEC’s website. 

The Day-old Pheasant Chick Program provides pheasant hunting opportunities through a partnership between DEC, hunters, 4-H youth, and landowners interested in rearing and releasing pheasants. Birds from this program are released before the season opens and disperse widely, presenting a greater challenge for experienced hunters.  

DEC reminds hunters to ask permission from private landowners before hunting on their lands. Cooperative landowner/hunter relationships are critical to ensure that these areas remain open to hunting in future years.   

To ensure the safety of hunters and DEC staff during pheasant stocking efforts, pheasant hunting is not allowed on Fridays at Carlton Hill Multiple Use Area during October and November. Hunters are encouraged to review the 2021-2022 New York State Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide before going afield, and to be sure of their targets and beyond when hunting. The guide, which is available on DEC’s website, includes boundary restrictions and other important information. For reference, "Rooster only" and "rooster and hen" boundary descriptions are located on page 40 of the guide.   
                                                            
A special permit is required for hunting small game during the opening day of pheasant season on Zoar Valley Multiple Use Area in the town of Collins, Erie County, and Harwood Lake Multiple Use Area in the town of Farmersville, Cattaraugus County. Hunters interested in entering the DEC permit lottery for these multiple use areas are advised to mail one standard-size postcard to NYSDEC, Bureau of Wildlife, 270 Michigan Ave., Buffalo, NY 14203.

Postcards must include the hunter’s name, address, telephone number, 2021-22 license back tag number, preferred time of hunt (sunrise to noon or 1 p.m. to sunset), and the management area desired in order of preference. All entries must be received by Sept 24. There is no fee for the permit, and hunters awarded permits will be able to name one additional hunter on their permit. Ten permits will be issued per time block on each management area. Small game hunting on all other days will remain sunrise to sunset with no permit required.   

BE ADVISED: Dogs are not allowed in designated areas for any purpose during the 48-hour period immediately preceding opening day of the fall pheasant season as posted on Zoar Valley Multiple Use Area, and Harwood Lake Multiple Use Area. 

Hunting throughout the pheasant season is allowed at Golden Hill, Joseph Davis, and Wilson-Tuscarora State Parks in Niagara County. However, permits are required on Oct. 16, Oct. 23, and Oct. 30 for Golden Hill, Joseph Davis, and Wilson-Tuscarora State Parks. There will be two separate hunts each day that a permit is required. The first hunt is from sunrise until 12:30 p.m. The second hunt is from 12:30 p.m. until sunset.

Hunters interested in entering the permit lottery at Golden Hill, Joseph Davis, and Wilson Tuscarora State Parks should mail a standard-size file card for each date and park they would like to hunt. Only one permit will be issued to each hunter per day. Cards may be put into an envelope for each respective park and mailed together to the appropriate address below:

 

Information on the card should include the hunter’s name, address, telephone number, e-mail address, hunting license back tag number, hunt date, a.m. hunt or p.m. hunt, and desired park location. Entries will be computerized to avoid duplications. All lottery entries must be received by noon on Friday, Sept 24. Contact the respective Park Managers with questions regarding the permit lottery. Note: there will be no pheasant hunting at Golden Hill, Joseph Davis, and Wilson Tuscarora State Parks on release days (Oct. 22 and 29). There is no fee for the permit and hunters awarded permits have the option of naming one additional hunter on their permit.

Hunters wishing to hunt pheasants in Allegany State Park are reminded they must pick up a free hunting permit at the administration building near Red House Lake before hunting in the park. Small game hunting is not allowed in Allegany State Park during the regular big game season from Nov. 20 until Dec. 12. Refer to the table for a summary of the number of pheasants to be stocked and release sites in each county. Contact DEC’s Bureau of Wildlife at (716) 851-7010 in Buffalo or (716) 372-0645 in Allegany with questions. Additional information about pheasant hunting is available on DEC’s website.